New York City’s mayoral race heats up as City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams enters the fray, setting up a dramatic showdown against embattled Mayor Eric Adams and disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
At a Glance
- NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has launched her campaign for Mayor, promising competent leadership amid “chaos in City Hall”
- If elected, Adams would become the first woman to lead New York City
- Former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has also entered the race following his 2021 resignation over sexual harassment allegations
- Current Mayor Eric Adams faces federal corruption charges but remains in the race
- The Democratic primary is just four months away with multiple candidates vying for the position
A New Challenger Emerges
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has officially thrown her hat into the ring for the upcoming mayoral election, challenging incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and creating a three-way battle that includes former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The announcement came as Adrienne Adams, who became the first Black council speaker in 2022, filed paperwork for a campaign committee and plans to hold a formal rally on Saturday to kick off her campaign.
In her announcement, Adams highlighted affordability concerns plaguing city residents and portrayed the current administration as dysfunctional. The Speaker, who was first elected to the City Council in 2017, has positioned herself as a dedicated public servant focused on addressing the everyday challenges faced by New Yorkers rather than personal political gain.
“New Yorkers can’t afford to live here, City Hall is in chaos, and Donald Trump is corrupting our city’s independence,” she said.
Speculation grows that race for New York City mayor could soon get more crowded https://t.co/tPdEvmsbsy pic.twitter.com/ZotXvLN6tz
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) February 20, 2025
A Race Defined By Scandal
The mayoral contest comes at a tumultuous time for New York City politics. Current Mayor Eric Adams faces federal corruption charges, creating vulnerability in his reelection bid. Despite calls from Adrienne Adams and others for him to step down amid multiple resignations from his administration, Eric Adams has remained defiant and continues his campaign.
Meanwhile, former Governor Andrew Cuomo has mounted his own comeback attempt by entering the mayoral race. Cuomo resigned from the governorship in 2021 following a report detailing sexual harassment allegations from multiple women. While he has acknowledged that he may have “offended” women, he has consistently denied inappropriate touching and questioned the investigation’s validity.
Making History In City Hall
If successful in her bid, Adrienne Adams would make history as the first woman to lead New York City Hall. This potential milestone comes after she already broke barriers as the first Black female speaker of the City Council. Her campaign emphasizes competence and integrity at a time when city leadership has faced serious questions about both qualities.
The upcoming Democratic primary is crowded with other notable candidates including City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, socialist State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and former City Comptroller Scott Stringer.
